The “Network discovery is turned off” error on Windows typically occurs when the network discovery feature is disabled. Network discovery is a Windows feature that allows your computer to find other devices on the network and lets other devices discover your computer. If you encounter this error, you can follow these steps to fix it:
- Open Settings: Click on the “Start” button, and then click on the gear-shaped “Settings” icon to open the Windows Settings.
- Go to Network & Internet: In the Settings window, click on “Network & Internet.”
- Change Network Profile: On the Network & Internet page, make sure you are connected to the network where you want to enable network discovery. Click on “Network profile.”
- Choose a Network Profile: If you are using a private network (e.g., your home or office network), select “Private.” If you are on a public network (e.g., a coffee shop or airport Wi-Fi), select “Public.” Network discovery is usually disabled on public networks for security reasons.
- Enable Network Discovery: After selecting the appropriate network profile, scroll down to the “Network discovery” section. Turn on the “Turn on network discovery” toggle switch.
- Save Changes: Click on “Save changes” to apply the new network profile settings.
- Restart your PC (Optional): Sometimes, a restart might be required for the changes to take effect. You can restart your computer to ensure the settings are applied correctly.
After completing these steps, network discovery should be enabled, and you should no longer see the “Network discovery is turned off” error message.
It’s worth mentioning that the steps might slightly differ depending on the version of Windows you are using. If you can’t find the exact options mentioned above, you can search for “network discovery” in the Windows Settings search bar to locate the appropriate settings.
Additionally, ensure that your network is set up correctly and that there are no firewall or security software restrictions that might be blocking network discovery. If you are on a corporate or managed network, network discovery settings might be controlled by network administrators, and you may need to contact them for assistance.